Concept of authority
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Authority refers to legitimate power that is approved by law or the constitution. It consists of both power and legitimacy. Authority is the capacity or ability to exercise influence over others due to one's position or office. Max Weber identified three main types of authority: traditional authority based on long-standing customs, charismatic authority derived from an individual's charisma or divine calling, and rational-legal authority based on rules and bureaucracy. Authority differs from power in that authority is always legalized while power can be acquired through force rather than peaceful means.
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Concept of authority
- 1. Authority By Mr. Mahesh Jaiwantrao Patil M.A. (Political Science), M.Phil, NET, SET, & Ph.D (Pursuing) Assistant Professor, Narayanrao Chavan Law College, Nanded, Maharashtra, India. Cell No.(+91) 09860816313
- 2. Introduction Authority is that form of power which is legalized and legitimized . Authority is a form of power e.g. a statute giving power to an minister. If a person has power due to a special office , he occupies, this is known as authority. Example- Police Commissioner has authority to issue order and get them obeyed by virtue of authority he occupies. Power + legitimacy = Authority. Authority consists of two important components: power and legitimacy. Authority means legitimate power which has been approved by the people or power in accordance with the constitution or the law of the state. A government officer is competent to use authority- his authority is clearly definied.
- 3. Meaning In English, the word 'Authority1 can be used to mean power given by the state. According to Michael in the Encyclopedia of social sciences, authority is the capacity, innate or acquired for exercising ascendancy over a group. Weber defined domination (Authority) on the chance of commands being obeyed by a specific group of people. Origin of the Word 'Authority' : The word 'Authority‘is derived from the Latin word 'austoritus’ meaning‘ invention‘, 'advice', 'opinion', 'influence' or 'command' in English
- 4. : Authority means power given by the state in the from of government, judges, police officers etc. The word 'Authority’ is used in the name of an organization, the name usually refers to the governing body upon which such authority is vested. Meaning of the Word 'Authority' in Different Spheres : Government : In government the term 'authority' is often used interchangeably with the term 'power'. Here authority refers to a claim of legitimacy, the justification and might to exercise that power.
- 5. Nature Authority is institutionalized and legal power inherent in a particular job, function, or position that is meant to enable its holder to successfully carry out his or her responsibilities. Authority is power that is delegated formally. It includes a right to command a situation, commit resources, give orders and except them to be obeyed, it is always accompanied by an equal responsibility for one's actions or a failure to act. In government, the term authority is often used interchangeably with power in political philosophy, the jurisdiction of political authority, the location of sovereignty, the balancing of freedom and authority. Since the emergency of social sciences authority has become a subject of research in a variety of empirical settings.
- 6. Max Weber Typology of Authority Max Weber (1864 -1920), German sociologist and political economist, he is best known for his thesis of the ‘Protestant Ethic’ and for his ideas on bureaucracy . He explained typology of authority concept in his book the theory of social and Economic organization 1971. Weber divided legitimate authority into three types. Traditional Authority : It is derived from long established customs, habits and social structures. When power passes from one generation to another generation, then it is called traditional authority. The best example is the right of hereditary monarchs to rule a country. Charismatic Authority : Here, the charisma of the individual or the leader play the important part. It is the authority which is derived from the gift of grace or when the leader claims that his authority is derived from a "higher power"
- 7. (e.g. God or natural law or rights) or "inspiration", and followers accept this and are willing to follow this hitherto or inspired authority, in the place of authority that they have hitherto been following. For example, N. T. Rama Rao, a idol whose charisma made him one of the most powerful Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh & Mr. Narendra Modi (Present PM of India). Legal Rational Authority : it is the form of authority which depends for its legitimacy or formal ruler and established laws of the state, which are usually written and often are complex. The power of the rational legal authority is mentioned in the Constitution. Modern societies depend on legal-rational authority and Government officials are the best example of this form of authority.
- 8. Comparison Table Sr No Particular Charismatic Traditional Legal Rational 1 Type of ruler Charismatic leader Dominant personality Functional superiors or bureaucratic officials 2 Position determined by Having dynamic personality Established traditional or routine Legal established authority 3 Ruled Using Extra- ordinary qualities and exceptional powers Acquired or inherited ( hereditary qualities) Virtue of rationally established norms, decrees, and other rules and regulations 4 Legitimized Victories and success to community Established traditional or routine General belief in the formal correctness of these rule and those who enact them are considered a legitimized authority
- 9. Comparison Table Sr No Particular Charismatic Traditional Legal Rational 5 Loyalty Interpersonal & personal allegiance and devotion Based on traditional allegiance (commitment) To authority/ rules 6 Cohesion ( Structure / organization Emotionally unstable and volatile Feeling of common purpose Abiding by rules 7 Leadership Rulers and followers (disciples) Established forms of social conduct Rules, not rulers
- 10. Weber has noted that legal domination is the most advanced, and that societies evolve from having mostly traditional and charismatic authorities to mostly rational and legal ones, because the instability of charismatic authority automatically forces it to "routinize" into a more structured form of authority. Similarly, he notes that in a pure type of traditional rule, sufficient resistance to a master can lead to a "traditional revolution". Thus, he indicates towards an inevitable move towards a rational-legal structure of authority, utilizing a bureaucratic structure. This ties to his broader concept of rationalization by suggesting the inevitability of a move in this direction. In traditional authority, the legitimacy of the authority comes from tradition, in charismatic authority from the personality and leadership qualities of the individual (charisma), and in legal (or rational-legal) authority from powers that are bureaucratically and legally attached to certain positions.
- 11. Difference between power & Authority Sr.No Power Authority 1 Power is not always legal Authority is always legal 2 It acquires not through peaceful means but these are elements of force, control, coercion It is phenomenon of peaceful times 3 Power is essence of politics Legitimacy is the basis of Authority 4 Force is the brutal manifestation of power Authority is the legitimate use of power. Authority Is the institutional use of power. 5 It is political polarization of the desire interest of the people. Authority is rooted in the rules and regulations of the government.